Development of a functional fixator system for bone deformity near joints

Abstract

A functional external fixator system for bone deformity near the joints using worm gear was developed for curing the angle difference in fracture bones while the lengthening bar was developed for curing the differences in length, also in fracture bones. Both experiments and FE analysis were performed to compare the elastic stiffness in several loading modes and to improve the functional external fixator system for bone deformity near joints. The FE model using compressive and bending FE analysis was applied due to the angle differentiations. The results indicate that compressive stiffness value in the experiment was 175.43 N/mm, bending stiffness value in the experiment was 259.74 N/mm, compressive stiffness value in the FEA was 188.67 N/mm, and bending stiffness value in the FEA was 285.71 N/mm. Errors between experiments and FEA were less than 10% in both the compressive stiffness and the bending stiffness. The maximum stress (l57 MPa) applied to the angle of the clamp was lower than the yield stress (176.4 MPa) of SUS316L. The degree of stiffness in both axial compression and bending of the new fixator are about 2 times greater than other products, with the exception of EBI (2003).